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May 31, 2012

Pro-Environmental Practice Promoted With Voluntary Groups

by editor

New research by the University of Southampton has examined the role of voluntary organizations in promoting pro-environmental behavior change. It points to evidence of success around small-scale, local initiatives, but questions whether these can be scaled up to reach the wider public.

The research review points to qualitative and quantitative evidence of third sector initiatives that have changed people's practices around recycling, reuse and home energy use.

Evidence suggests third sector organizations (TSOs) can be successful at changing behavior within local, small group settings, which encourage collective action and the creation of new group norms. They have also been successful at providing alternative infrastructures — such as sustainable housing projects, community farms, food or renewable energy co-operatives — that enable behavior change.

However, the small, local and time-intensive nature of many projects poses a barrier to implementing them on a wider scale. There is also a lack of evidence around whether TSOs can have impact on 'harder to change' behaviors, such as transport practices.

Milena Buchs, from the Third Sector Research Centre at University of Southampton, who conducted the research, says: "Quite broad claims have been made about the ability of third sector organizations to influence behavior. There are certainly good examples of them working with people to successfully change the way they approach things like energy use, food or waste. But evidence also suggests that many people who get involved in these projects are already engaged with environmental issues to some extent. The question that remains is whether it is possible to engage the broader public, especially where behavior change challenges mainstream attitudes and norms.

"This may mean that additional government action is needed to change environmental practices at a national level."